Holidays

The Upside of Deafness

By Daring Young Mom on Friday, November 23, 1:40 pm EST

Laylee has lost her hearing. When you talk to her, she either stares at you with a vague uncomprehending smile or yells, "WHAT?" until you yell back. She came down with her 100,000th ear infection this weekend and although the antibiotics have antied all the biotics in her body, her ear canals have been left full of thick fluid that causes her to need an ear-horn.
The doctor says it's temporary and we're glad about that. Life is easier for the hearing in this world and I truly enjoy talking with her. By the time I put her to bed each night, I'm annoyed by my own yelling voice. “Did you have fun at preschool Laylee? I SAID DID YOU HAVE FUN AT PRESCHOOL LAYLEE??!!”

Magoo jumps or flinches when I yell and I've had to explain to the neighbor kids so they don't think I'm telling her off in the strangest possible way. "LAYLEE! THAT WAS REALLY NICE HOW YOU SHARED YOUR JELLY BEANS WITH MAGOO!!! THANK YOU!"

"Why is she mad about that?" they wonder.

I'm not mad, just loud by necessity. But sometimes, I don't need to be loud around her. Sometimes I need to be very very quiet. This whole deafness thing could really come in handy as we prepare for Christmas. Until she learns to lip read, we can discuss all her presents without her knowing a thing. Dan can proposition me openly if her back is turned and I can even say C-R-A-P without spelling it out.

I really do hope she gets better soon but for now, we're looking on the bright side.

Pam in Utah

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/24/2007 at 2:00 pm

Oh, too bad about the ears, but least she doesn't have a temperature, hopefully. Hearing is a lovely think, all right. Hope you had a nice thanksgiving. :)

Sarcastic Mom

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/24/2007 at 3:01 pm

2 thoughts: 1)I'm left wondering if maybe my husband has had an ear infection all these years. Would explain a lot of things he "didn't hear." 2)I totally thought of the Will Ferrell SNL character that has Voice Immodulation Disease. I could see/hear you in my head using that same kind of oddly monotone, yelling voice saying, "LAYLEE! THAT WAS REALLY NICE HOW YOU SHARED YOUR JELLY BEANS WITH MAGOO!!!" Ha!

Mynutritionistdotcom

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/24/2007 at 5:20 pm

Ear infections may be preventable by simply changing the diet. Milk and dairy,and other food allergens contribute.

Julie

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/25/2007 at 1:35 am

LOL, really really L.

Baby Dumpling's Poppa

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/25/2007 at 12:00 pm

I disagree to some extent about ear infections being preventable. When the sinuses are draining fluid gets into the ear and this can cause ear infections. Sinus drainage can be caused by a number of things including change in weather. Just wait until the ears open. She'll hear everything for miles around. I wonder if she'll tell when that happens or repeat the secrets when she wants bigger presents.

FeeFiFoto

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/25/2007 at 7:35 pm

Check out "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Magic," outdated but sweet stories of a little old lady who solves disciplinary problems with powders & ointments that parents surreptitiously administer to their naughty (1940s-era) kids. One story is about "The Thought You Saiders," kids who think it's funny to misinterpret what their parents are saying ("'Please pass the butter?' I thought you said 'Fleas gasp and mutter...'")

peepnroosmom

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/26/2007 at 6:55 am

Oh no. I hope her ear infection resolves soon. When Peep was 3 he had the same problem. He was actually deaf in one ear for a couple of months. I had to yell everything at him, too. After he had tubes put in I had to talk really quietly because then he could hear.

Angela

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/26/2007 at 10:12 am

Aw man, I was all geared up for some parenting tips on "deaf" 4 year olds. Because I have one of those. But alas, you REALLY have one. :( Hope her canals are cleared soon.

Mary

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/26/2007 at 11:30 am

My daughter went through the constant ear infections, also. We also eliminated dairy products from her diet and it was a miracle! After a year or two (she's thirty now!) she was back on dairy with no problems.

Millie

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/26/2007 at 11:49 am

It's great that you can find the silver lining. :) We enjoyed our Isabella's husky 4-year-old man voice, mouth-breathing-while-eating and general hard-of-hearing-ness until she had tubes put in and her tonsils and adenoids out. After her surgery, she sounded like Minnie Mouse. We asked the doctor when her voice would come back and he said, "Uh... that IS her voice."

Daisy

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/26/2007 at 5:42 pm

I'm glad you're monitoring her ear canals between infections. Has she had tubes? Hearing loss at this age, even temporary, can interfere with language development. --from a Hearing Impaired adult who is mother to a Visually Impaired (and still prone to ear infections!) teen

Melissa

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/27/2007 at 5:35 pm

Oh yes.....I know all about the joys (and downsides) of being able to yell at your kids all the time :) My kids unfortunately won't get rid of theirs (hearing loss) but no big deal. We're 4 for 4. Just gives more time to sneak in the swear words and yell at them for being nice- ha ha. I started a blog (the Loudest House on the Block) dedicated to this very subject, but typically get way off course.

Carrie

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/28/2007 at 12:39 am

Those ear infections are horrible! I hope she gets better soon so you can stop yelling!

Heidi Hyde

re: The Upside of Deafness

11/28/2007 at 3:57 pm

I love how you've put a positive spin on your child's deafness. That's my kind of daring- young mama! -HH